Far Beyond a Trojan Horse

In ancient Greece, legend reveals, Troy was impenetrable. However, their Greek adversaries devised a clever plan to overcome them. They built a giant horse and offered it as a gift to the Trojans, who accepted it and took it within their walls. In fact, however, the horse was filled with Greek warriors, who came out during the night, attacked the Trojans, and won the decisive battle. Since then, the term “Trojan Horse” has been synonymous with cleverly defeating one’s enemies. That is, until now!

Today, centuries later, a more ambitious strategy for defeating enemies has not only been devised but put into practice with considerable success. That strategy has been to gradually take over entire countries and radically change their beliefs, values, customs, and social/governmental systems to the point where truths become falsehoods and falsehoods truths; morality becomes immoral and immorality moral; wisdom becomes foolishness and foolishness wisdom.

This strategy was at first tried with small countries that were once strong but had become vulnerable over time. Then the strategists refined their approaches and applied them to the strongest country in the world, indeed the strongest in history, the United States of America. The applications have extended from one town, city, state, and region to another, and with surprising effectiveness.

“How could this possibly be happening?” people ask. The easiest and very common response to the question is “It isn’t happening. Some people simply don’t recognize progress when they see it.” People who respond this way are much like the trusting Trojans who said to the fearful, “You should recognize a gift when you see it.”

The appropriate response to the idea that changes are dangerous is to consider them thoughtfully and ask probing questions. Key among those questions should be “Are these changes progressive or regressive, helpful or hurtful, sensible or senseless?”

Following are a few examples of the changes in our culture that should be examined in this way.

1. For many years, those who wished to migrate to the United States were required to apply and be evaluated by the government and either approved or disapproved for entry. To enter the country without approval was a criminal act.

In recent years the government ignored law and allowed millions of immigrants to enter without approval. Therefore, not only did the immigrants commit a crime, but the government violated their obligation to uphold the law. Furthermore, some cities and states not only ignored the government’s dereliction of duty, but also gave the lawbreakers housing, food stamps, drivers licenses, and voting privileges.

The next administration noted the immigrants’ criminal act and their predecessors’ failure to follow the law. Understanding that they were bound by the same legal obligation as the previous administration, they chose to honor that obligation, close the border, and assigned government officers to arrest and expel those who had entered the country illegally.

In the past, officers who carried out such assignments were respected for doing so. But in recent years many people have not only maligned them but also attacked them physically and threatened them and their families with death.

Which action concerning the border has been more reasonable and proper? What should be done in response to those who prevent reasoning and proper actions from being carried out?

2. Thomas Jefferson wrote these well-known words in the Declaration of Independence:“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Equality has since then been generally understood to refer to opportunity; in other words, that everyone deserves the chance to realize his/her capabilities and that preventing that chance is a violation of the person’s rights.

In recent years, a different understanding has gained support; that equality refers to result rather than mere opportunity. That view has led to the notion that failure to achieve the same success as others suggests a violation of the person’s right to equality. And that in turn has led to unreasonable expectations which, if not satisfied, can lead to social disharmony or even to court action.

Which view of equality, opportunity or result, is more reasonable?

3. For centuries stealing what belongs to someone else has been considered both a moral and legal offense and punished accordingly. A prominent form of such stealing in the last century was known as “shoplifting,” and even taking a few dollars’ worth of merchandise was cause for arrest and prosecution. However, in recent years some municipalities and states have exempted any shoplifting worth $999 or less from prosecution.

Should this change be accepted as wise or foolish, helpful or harmful to society.

4. For centuries, parents were considered responsible for their children’s conduct in school and community, as well as for their general wellbeing. School administrators were quick to contact the parent if their child misbehaved or showed anxiety. Similarly, children were not allowed to take an aspirin without the parents’ knowledge and permission.

In recent years however, parents seem to be considered outsiders to whom teachers have no responsibility. In some cases, parents have been denied information about curriculums, reading materials, and counseling of their children. In some cases, grade school students have reportedly been sent to physicians to discuss sex-change procedures without parental knowledge let alone approval.

Is there any reasonable explanation for the alienation of parents by schoolteachers and administrators? In light of your answer, what (if anything) should be done about such alienation and those who practice it?

These are but a few of many significant changes in our society that some argue are not only harmful but destructive of American culture in a way reminiscent of the “Trojan Horse” of Greek legend. Not everyone will share this perspective, but responsible people will take such changes seriously and evaluate them carefully before making a judgement.

Copyright 2025 by Vincent Ryan Ruggiero. All rights reserved.